‘Out of the Man Cave’ at Hackney Museum – patterns created with Hackney Brocals participants about their lockdown stories

Hackney Museum launch ‘Collecting Covid’ archive inspired by new ‘Out of the Man Cave’ display

Hackney Museum’s new ‘Collecting Covid’ project is inviting residents to share personal objects and stories which reveal social and personal interactions during the pandemic.

It launches alongside the new ‘Out of the ManCave’ display which celebrates Hackney Brocals social club for men aged 50+ who held events during lockdown to combat isolation.

The ‘Out of the ManCave’ display was created by Angela Groundwater, an artist and wallpaper designer working with older community groups in East London.

Using intricate patterns and personal artefacts to share stories from the participants’ lives before and during lockdown, Angela designed the new display now at Hackney Museum.

Angela Groundwater said: “Hanging out with the Brocals and hearing their life stories coupled with the way they dealt with lockdown was inspiring – what struck me most was what individuals they each are, wise, comic and full of life.”

Inspired from the work of Hackney Brocals’ ‘Out of the ManCave’, Hackney Museum is launching its ‘Collecting Covid’ project.

The project aims to collect materials, particularly 3D objects, which reveal social and personal interactions during the pandemic and its wider and often unexpected impacts on life, society and culture.

Submissions can be made by people who live, work or study in Hackney and seeks to reflect the borough’s diverse communities for a new temporary exhibition and future research.

Cllr Nicholson said: “As demonstrated with the Hackney Brocals-inspired display, Hackney has a long history of responding to adversity with inspiring creativity and community spirit. We look forward to seeing how Hackney Museum will help retain and retell this significant chapter of history”.

To find out more or to share your stories and objects please contact: museum@hackney.gov.uk

Out of the Man Cave is on now at Hackney Museum – To book a free ticket visit https://hackney-museum.hackney.gov.uk/visiting

Hackney Brocals was set up by City and Hackney Carers Centre, a charity running projects supporting unpaid carers and the over-50s in Hackney and the City of London. For City & Hackney Carers Centre information, visit www.hackneycarers.org.uk

For more information about the project visit www.brocals.org

To learn more about Angela Groundwater, see www.angela-groundwater.com